THE SYMBIOTIC BOND OF BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION: Nigeria’s Inseparable Twins (Part 3 OF 3)

Perspectives with Dr. Iyke Ezeugo

Corruption in Nigeria: A Deeper Examination

While bribery can often appear as the flashy, visible act of misconduct, corruption is its quieter yet more pervasive twin. Unlike the transactional nature of bribery, corruption operates through entrenched systems and opaque processes, creating a climate where power and personal interest overrule integrity and the public good. In this final part of our series, we examine the anatomy of corruption and how it thrives within Nigeria’s institutions, impacting every facet of public life.

I. Defining Corruption in Nigeria

According to Transparency International, corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, a systemic rot that permeates both public and private sectors. In Nigeria, corruption is not limited to explicit exchanges but often operates through layers of networks and favors that are woven into the very fabric of governance and society. This complexity gives corruption a unique resilience, making it seem both omnipresent and, alarmingly, acceptable in many quarters.

However, we need to start redefining bribery and corruption in ways that transcend conventional understandings. Below are their nuanced forms and hidden mechanisms, revealing how they permeate souls and systems beyond mere monetary exchanges or overt misconduct. Although this part is dedicated to ‘Corruption – Bribery notorious brother, I will take a little space to touch Bribery again but in the light of its subtlety. The intersection is further necessitated by the fact that we are yet to ascertain the success of the surgery meant to separate the conjoined twins.

Is Bribery all about Exchange of money of tangible gifts?

In its broader sense, bribery extends beyond monetary transactions, involving any use of personal influence, connections, or non-monetary incentives to gain unfair advantages. It can be insidious, as it often includes non-monetary favors where individuals exchange privileges without involving cash; for instance, an official might prioritize services for a friend, which is bribery through favoritism. It also includes promised opportunities, where future benefits like job offers or political endorsements act as bribes, securing loyalty without immediate financial exchange. Emotional and psychological manipulation plays a role, as leveraging guilt, loyalty, or indebtedness can coerce someone into providing special treatment. Information and influence trading is another aspect, where sensitive details are exchanged for influence or protection, creating a concealed cycle of bribery.

By acknowledging these less conventional forms, we see that bribery often involves subtler tactics and less visible forms of influence that are equally damaging to fairness and integrity.

Corruption in its traditional dress and Beyond Financial Gain

Corruption extends far beyond embezzling funds or accepting bribes, encompassing a complex web of behaviors that silently corrode the integrity of individuals and institutions, often without involving direct financial gain. At its core, corruption includes systematic manipulation and obstruction —actions such as deliberately slowing down permits or approvals, wielding power to inconvenience others, or punishing detractors for personal gain. Cronyism and nepotism intensify this decay by placing unqualified friends or family members in influential roles, distorting meritocracy and weakening organizational integrity.

Another insidious form is selective enforcement, where rules are applied inconsistently to favor certain individuals, thereby compromising fairness and eroding trust in the system. Corruption also thrives in the shadows through subverting transparency when information is concealed or facts are manipulated to serve personal agendas, it enables unethical activities to persist without oversight. Meanwhile, influence peddling and access trading foster a “pay-to-play” culture, creating environments where information or policy access is sold to the highest bidder, eroding public confidence in impartial governance.

Seemingly benign practices also contribute to corruption, such as hiring relatives or close associates under the guise of “networking,” a tactic that can create exclusive networks that stifle merit-based competition. In a similar vein, positioning oneself to gain undue advantage over others—a practice often unrecognized as corruption—is rationalized as strategic business moves: manipulating deals to underprice competitors, monopolizing benefits, or withholding crucial information for personal gain. These actions, though often excused as clever tactics, fundamentally compromise fairness and integrity within organizations and communities.

Corruption can also involve turning a blind eye, where passivity allows unethical actions to continue unchecked, effectively protecting those who exploit the system. Furthermore, personal favoritism may be masked as “strategic decisions,” allowing preferential treatment to slip under the radar as pragmatic choices.

Real-world illustrations reveal the depth of this issue. For instance, selective contracting enables officials to award contracts solely to friends, families or loyalists, without any direct bribe being exchanged. Manipulating information within organizations to protect allies or discredit rivals is another common tactic, as is policy manipulation, where decisions are skewed to benefit specific interest groups while maintaining the facade of objectivity.

By redefining bribery and corruption to include these nuanced actions, we can expose the hidden mechanisms that perpetuate unethical behavior. This comprehensive view reveals that ethical decay often thrives within accepted norms and subtle actions, fostering a culture of complacency. Former President Muhammadu Buhari took office with a pledge to eradicate corruption but ultimately failed, largely due to an inadequate definition and understanding of corruption that left many forms unaddressed. One who must rightly separate stones from rice grains must first be able to recognize the difference, no matter the shape, color, or size that the stones take. Without this clarity, no true fight against corruption can be won. If corruption is properly painted in its full colours by way of definition, many will be surprised to discover that it’s embedded in their own skins, and that even the most outstanding corruption fighter in our nation’s leadership lineup, has their entire attire including their underwear sewn with the very fabrics of corruption.

Unlike transactional bribery, corruption in Nigeria frequently manifests as nepotism and favoritism, cronyism, embezzlement of public funds, and the abuse of discretionary power. These behaviors create a shadow network of influence and wealth within regulatory systems, hindering service delivery and crippling essential public resources. Only by expanding our definition of corruption and remaining vigilant can we establish environments resilient to these corrosive practices and illuminate actions that have long thrived in the dark.

II. The Entrenched Culture of Corruption

In Nigeria, corruption is not just an individual failing but a collective reality that spans decades. Its roots can be traced to the colonial legacy of exploitative governance and the subsequent development of a governance culture that views public office as a path to personal enrichment rather than public service.

The entrenchment of corruption in Nigerian society creates a self-sustaining system in which:

1. Social Normalization of Corruption
Corruption is so widespread that it becomes normalized. Public trust erodes, and citizens begin to view corrupt practices as necessary means of survival or progress. As a result, public officers who resist corruption are often viewed as outliers or even obstacles to collective progress.

2. Institutional Decay and Inertia
Institutions meant to uphold the rule of law become weakened, often manipulated by those in power. Law enforcement agencies, for example, might have limited authority, allowing corruption to continue unchecked. This creates a climate where rules are bent to favor those in positions of power, while ordinary citizens suffer the consequences.

3. Cycle of Dependence and Complicity
Ordinary citizens may feel forced to engage in corrupt practices to access basic services, fueling a cycle where corruption becomes the only reliable currency. This “complicity by necessity” traps people within a system they may resent but cannot escape without risking personal or economic loss.

III. Psychological Underpinnings and Societal Impacts of Corruption

Corruption shapes the mindset of individuals and society in profound ways:

1. Moral Disengagement and Desensitization
Similar to bribery, corruption leads to moral disengagement, where individuals rationalize unethical actions as necessary perhaps for reasons of poor incentives, wages or welfare. Over time, this desensitizes both the public and officials, creating a collective moral bankruptcy where the ends justify the means.

2. Impact on Youth and Future Generations
Young people in Nigeria grow up in an environment where corruption appears as the norm. This threatens the ethical foundations of future generations, instilling the belief that success is tied to connections, influence, and manipulation rather than hard work and integrity.

3. Loss of National Pride and Identity
Corruption undermines national identity and pride, as citizens lose faith in institutions and leaders. This erodes patriotism and fosters a sense of alienation and resentment among the population.

IV. Root Causes of Corruption

Understanding the root causes of corruption in Nigeria is essential for developing sustainable solutions:

1. Political Patronage and Weak Checks on Power
Corruption often stems from a system of political patronage where officials owe their positions to influential patrons rather than merit or the electorates. This creates a “loyalty economy” where officials prioritize personal loyalty over public duty. This informs why we see people changing their political parties at ease after each election, or change their dressing styles – wearing certain badges to identify with a political godfather, or caps sewn in the style of the sitting president or governor. These are quickly discarded as soon as the politician’s reign is over.

2. Economic Instability and Desperation
Persistent economic hardship exacerbates corruption, as people feel pressured to seek opportunities to survive wherever possible. Public officials, especially those with low salaries, may see corruption as an opportunity to make up for economic deficits, feeding a system of institutionalized theft and abuse.

3. Weak Regulatory and Oversight Bodies
While Nigeria has several anti-corruption agencies, they often lack sufficient funding, independence, or political support. This renders them ineffective and sometimes complicit in the system of corruption.

V. Consequences of Corruption

The ripple effects of corruption are felt across all levels of Nigerian society, affecting national development, public health, and even global standing:

– Economic Backslide Corruption stifles investment, as both domestic and international investors view Nigeria as a high-risk environment. Corruption is the principal reason why many International Companies closed down their businesses in Nigeria, many left Nigeria to neighbouring countries like Ghana, and many refused to invest despite all efforts to convince them. Of course, we know that this lack of investment and exit of many existing companies perpetuates poverty and economic stagnation.

– Public Health and Infrastructure: When funds meant for hospitals, schools, and public infrastructure are diverted, it leads to poor health outcomes and inadequate public services. Nigeria’s high rates of maternal mortality, for example, can be directly linked to the lack of funding and resources caused by corruption; road accident rates also have direct links to diverted funds for road construction and failure of supervisors to enforce quality.

– International Reputation and Aid Dependency: High levels of corruption damage Nigeria’s reputation on the international stage, limiting opportunities for foreign partnerships and aid. This dependency traps the country in a cycle of aid and relief rather than sustainable development.

VI. Toward a Solution: Addressing Systemic Corruption

Addressing systemic corruption in Nigeria will require a multi-faceted approach:

1. Strengthening Anti-Corruption Bodies and Legal Reforms
Anti-corruption bodies must be given the independence and authority to act without political interference. Laws should also be strengthened to ensure swift punishment for corrupt officials.

2. Promoting Transparency and Citizen Engagement
Transparency is key to curbing corruption. Public access to information can empower citizens to demand accountability from officials. Additionally, a culture of whistleblowing, coupled with protection for whistleblowers, can help to expose corrupt practices.

3. Education and Ethical Reorientation
Anti-corruption education should be embedded in schools to shape the values of young Nigerians. Emphasizing ethics and civic responsibility can help to build a new generation of leaders who reject corruption.

4. Cultural Reassessment and Community Accountability
Societal norms around corruption need to shift. Community-based accountability structures, where public officials are held accountable by those they serve, can reduce the distance between officials and citizens, promoting greater responsibility.

Through these interventions, Nigeria can work toward dismantling the deeply entrenched systems of corruption that weaken its social and political fabric. Though challenging, a concerted effort from both government and citizens is essential for creating a society that upholds integrity over personal gain. The stakes are high, but with persistent dedication, Nigeria can chart a new course toward transparency and accountability.

This comprehensive examination of corruption completes our dissection of Nigeria’s “inseparable twins” of bribery and corruption, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform and a collective commitment to ethical governance.

Dr. Iyke Ezeugo is a Forensic Researcher, a Social Impact Expert, and Satirist who uses his perspectives and parodies to challenge the status quo, spark debates, and inspire fresh perspectives on public affairs through insightful intellectual injections.